Step out September, have a stroll with us!
Step out September is a campaign to encourage people across the city to take part in safe, local opportunities in September, it is a partnership project between Bon Accord Care, ACVO, Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership and Sport Aberdeen. Step out September is part of ‘Stay Well Stay Connected’ which has an aim to promote better health and wellbeing, develop meaningful community relationships, promote better inclusion and help reduce social isolation.
There will be a range of gentle social walks and talks advertised where you can connect with other people both in and around your local area and in some of Aberdeen’s open spaces. You don’t need any special equipment, just bring yourself, wear your comfy shoes and bring a jacket.
If you use a wheelchair, use walking aids or if you are pushing a buggy, come along for a blether! We really want your company!
If you would like to do something in your school, in your housing complex, or workplace then let us know. We will have lots of ideas and resources we can share with you for inspiration so get in touch via SWSC@aberdeencity.gov.uk and we can add you to our Step Out September list. We’d love to get some photos to capture what you are doing to celebrate Stepping out this September!
If you already host a regular activity that you would like to include in Step out September, we would be delighted to hear from you!
If you are interested in training to become a walk leader then we can arrange this too. For more details on FREE Paths for All Walk Leader Training please click here or contact Sport Aberdeen Health Walk Coordinator Brian Harrison on ActiveLifestyles@sportaberdeen.co.uk
We are especially keen to reach those who have lost confidence and feel isolated due to the pandemic, so if this is you or someone you know, then come along!
We will give regular updates on Step out September but please get in touch if you have any queries or if you want to share your own ideas.
Together we CAN and together we WILL walk and talk our way back to wellbeing! We can’t wait to see you!
Registered charity Sport Aberdeen is delighted to announce that it has been named as a finalist in the ukactive Awards 2021, a national awards ceremony celebrating the UK active lifestyle sector.
Sport Aberdeen’s SPACE (Supported Physical Activity for Care Experienced) project, delivered in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, has been recognised in the category ‘Developing and Supporting Communities during Covid-19’.
SPACE is an innovative project delivered by registered charity Sport Aberdeen, which uses the positive benefits of sport and physical activity to help care experienced children and young people reach their full potential through bespoke interventions.
The project was the first of its kind in Scotland and is the evolution of the ‘Looked After Project’ which began in August 2016 in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. As a corporate parent, Sport Aberdeen has a commitment to over 450 care experienced young people within the care of Aberdeen City Council.
Working together, Sport Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council’s Integrated Children’s and Family Services aim to provide support for participants to achieve positive destinations utilising sport as a catalyst for positive change.
The project mentors the city’s most vulnerable children and young people who would otherwise have little or no access to many opportunities. These opportunities include boxing, cycling, horse-riding and accessing local greenspaces alongside free-of-charge membership to Sport Aberdeen’s citywide gyms.
This is a really exciting time for SPACE as we announce the official rebrand, which was heavily influenced by the participants, and now also being selected as a finalist alongside so many other deserving projects, we are absolutely thrilled for the project to be recognised in this way.
Graeme Dale
During the first Covid-19 lockdown, Project Activators were deployed into educational hubs, established to support children living in vulnerable situations. In total, 1,095 hours were spent directly impacting three hubs, with another 5,000 hours of Active Schools, part of Sport Aberdeen, time supporting children and young people across six hubs for children of keyworkers, and Orchard Brae School.
Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said: “I am extremely proud of the positive changes that the project has introduced over the last four years, in particular the work carried out during the very challenging months of the pandemic. The impact that it has had on young people, improving physical and mental wellbeing through sport and physical activity has been incredible.
“As a corporate parent Sport Aberdeen has the power to positively impact the lives of young people within the care of Aberdeen City Council, and through partnership working it is my hope that this initiative will continue to thrive and with national recognition we will be able to reach many more children and young people within the city.”
Larissa Gordon, Virtual School Head Teacher with Aberdeen City Council added: “The SPACE project has gone from strength to strength and its fantastic to watch as it develops, but more importantly seeing the real difference it makes to the lives of the children and young people who take part in it is invaluable.
“The positive changes that can be seen in participants both within and out-with the school environment is fantastic and through our joint working approach we are able to create opportunities for so many people in Aberdeen. I’m thrilled that SPACE has been shortlisted as a finalist for the ukactive awards and would like to wish the best of luck to all the other brilliant projects that make a difference to local communities.”
Find out more about the SPACE project here.
Sport Aberdeen is set to host gymnastic instructor training sessions in the hope of attracting more coaches in order to expand the city’s sporting offering.
The official Scottish Gymnastics Activity Instructor Course will run in July for people aged 18 and over and is aimed at anyone interested in gymnastics coaching and has experience working with children. It will take place at Get active @ Kincorth on Corthan Crescent during the week commencing 19 July and will be spread over four days; three practical and one theory.
There may be an opportunity to receive funding for the course, please contact Programme Coordinator Aynsley Henderson on Ahenderson@sportaberdeen.co.uk if you would like more information or to book a space by Monday 28 June.
Dianne Breen, Sport Aberdeen Programme and Membership Services Manager said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for anyone who is interested in delivering basic gymnastics skills and is looking to develop their knowledge and help others. It is our hope that by up upskilling more people in Aberdeen we will be able to expand our extremely popular gymnastics offering, creating more opportunities for people to take part in community sport.
“Spaces are filling up quickly so I would encourage anyone who is interested in developing their skills to get in touch with us as soon as they can.”
The gymnastics programme at Sport Aberdeen is an ideal way to get involved in gymnastics and trampoline in Aberdeen. We operate at a number of venues across the city and our gymnastics and trampoline coaches are qualified through the Scottish and British Gymnastics coach education programme. Click here for more information.
Sport Aberdeen has received investment from Action for Children to extend a partnership project supporting local families facing challenges in Aberdeen.
Sport Aberdeen and Action for Children, a UK children’s charity committed to helping vulnerable children and young people, joined forces in 2019 to appoint a new Project Activator post within the city, made possible through a grant from the Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity Fund – a partnership between The Robertson Trust, The Scottish Government, sportscotland and Spirit of 2012.
Following a very successful three-years, the Priority Families Service, which saw the Project Activator embedded into the Priority Families team, has been awarded further investment and Action for Children will facilitate the local post until March 2022.
The additional resource has allowed the project to offer a greater level of support to meet the needs of families and individuals within the city who often have fewer opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity and are frequently affected by negative outcomes leading to health inequalities.
Programme interventions work both on a one to one basis and with the family as a whole. The project uses activities offered by Sport Aberdeen and partnerships within the local sports network, providing a wide range of opportunities that help meet key objectives including enabling vulnerable families in Aberdeen to:
- enjoy better physical and emotional wellbeing;
- better engage in positive and constructive behaviours and choices;
- and have increased confidence and self-esteem.
I am delighted that Action for Children has been able to extend its partnership investment and we are very much looking forward to continuing the work we do, giving everyone access to physical activity, improving physical and mental health.
Graeme Dale
Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said: “Extending this project not only means that we can support even more families across the city but also highlights the vital role that partnership working plays within the third sector, creating more opportunities to reach the local community.
“The last year has been exceptionally challenging and with this extra lifeline we will look to support the community’s recovery through harnessing the power of sport and bringing about real and positive change to vulnerable families in Aberdeen.”
Paul Carberry, Action for Children Director for Scotland, said: “We are pleased with this award of extended funding. This continued partnership will enable children, young people and their families we support from across Aberdeen City to access varied support through sport.
“Covid lockdowns have shown how much people value and link their physical and mental health to their general well-being. It is vital in aiding the recovery of individuals and communities that we can continue to offer people that increased engagement with sport and physical activities.
“We are grateful to Sport Aberdeen and the funders for their support and commitment to the children, young people and families we work with in Aberdeen.”
One of the north-east’s most popular golf courses has reopened to the public following a significant programme of restoration works over the autumn and winter months.
Golf Aberdeen, part of award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen, which also manages the MacKenzie Championship, Hazlehead Pines and Balnagask Golf Courses, officially re-opened the greens at Kings Links Golf Course on Saturday 2 May.
Following chemical damage to the greens last August, work on the course has been overseen by Golf Aberdeen’s maintenance partners idverde with on-going expert independent advice from the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) who have commended the maintenance team on the quality of work undertaken and progress made to date.
I believe the overriding success of this project was due to the team ethic at Golf Aberdeen and their partners at idverde.
Gary Smith, STRI Regional Turfgrass Agronomist
Gary Smith, STRI’s Regional Turfgrass Agronomist who worked in partnership with Golf Aberdeen said: “The challenges of regenerating damaged grass plants alongside germinating new seedlings into mature grasses in poor weather conditions are enormous, however, with perseverance and patience, underpinned by the decisions made to close the greens to play, allowed the targeted outcomes to be achieved.
“All parties should be congratulated on the positive can-do attitude taken and adoption of the primary concerns of cardinal importance for grass plant health and longer-term improved surface renewal.”
The programme has consisted of: regular surface brushing, reseeding with fine turfgrass, topdressing, rolling and mowing and a nutritional programme which includes fertilisers and soil improvers. A monitoring programme saw daily photographic records of each green and soil sampling throughout.
Alistair Robertson, Sport Aberdeen Managing Director, said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of the intensive programme of rectification works on the greens. The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) gave a very positive and encouraging final review and were impressed at how they have stood up to the snow and ice over the winter months.
“I am delighted that we are now in a position to re-open the greens and I am confident that, as we move through spring, the better weather will mean the course will continue to recover from the prolonged winter weather and flourish.
“I am sure that we have a very positive season ahead for Golf Aberdeen members and players and I would like to extend my thanks to them for their patience while these rectification works took place. I would also like to thank our staff and maintenance partners who have worked hard to ensure the greens are in the condition they are now.”
Golf Aberdeen members flocked to the newly opened greens on Saturday. John Wood, William Pirie and Scott Davidson were the very first to tee off after reopening and commented on the condition of the greens after almost a year of hard work to bring them back to their former glory.
John Wood said: “It’s good to see lots of familiar faces back out on the course. I thought the greens were in really good condition. I’ve been on different courses over the last four or five weeks and this is right up there with the other ones I’ve been playing on, so well done.”
William Pirie said: “It’s fantastic. We played here most of the winter and the course was always in good nick but today was exceptional. For early season greens they were all really good, a few bumpy bits but that’s to be expected. It’s great to be back on a lovely day like today.”
To find out more about Golf Aberdeen memberships, click here.
Sport Aberdeen welcomed almost 1,300 members back to several of its citywide venues on its first two days of reopening, after four months of closure due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Alongside Aberdeen Tennis Centre and Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre, seven of Sport Aberdeen’s gyms opened their doors. Sport Aberdeen staff have been attending training in preparation for reopening, ensuring that enhanced safety protocols are in place to protect employees, volunteers and members.
Alistair Robertson, Sport Aberdeen Managing Director commented: “The response from the community has been fantastic. Gyms, pools and community leisure centres are absolutely vital to the mental and physical health and wellbeing of our community and these encouraging numbers only serve to highlight the eagerness to return to fitness.
It was fantastic to be back. The staff were welcoming and friendly as usual. I was made to feel like a valued member and felt exceedingly safe to be there and can’t recommend it highly enough!
Sport Aberdeen member
“Everyone has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure that our venues are safe, clean and ready and from the very encouraging feedback we have received over the last few days I am proud to say that our team has been going above and beyond in creating a friendly and welcoming environment for people returning to activities.”
At Get active @ Jesmond, another member appreciated the support of staff when returning from a lengthy break from the gym: “The staff are so lovely. Always helpful. Always smiley. Always friendly. The gym is 10000000% outside my comfort zone, so these small ‘acts of kindness’ are very much appreciated.”
Golf Aberdeen, part of award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen, is celebrating a historical golfing anniversary this month with the help of a kind donation.
April 2021 marks 100 years since Balnagask Golf Course reopened after a period of closure during World War One and local golfer and sanddollar café co-owner, Garry Millard, is helping the charity to celebrate the centenary milestone by gifting a historical golf club to the course.
The century-old club (a mashie iron, the modern equivalent of this being the 5-iron) was designed by Tom Whyte who was the Professional at Balnagask Golf Club around the time of reopening one hundred years ago.
Balnagask Golf Course, which is run by Golf Aberdeen, is widely acknowledged as one of the best municipal 18-hole courses in Scotland. James Braid, Archie Simpson and the Hawtree family all had a hand in carving out the coastal golf experience.
“It is fantastic that we have been able to mark the centenary with this extremely kind and historical gift from a fellow golfer. The fact we are celebrating this landmark anniversary at a time when golf has never been more popular in Scotland highlights our ongoing national affection for the sport and we are extremely proud of the range of golfing opportunities available in Aberdeen City.”
Alistair Robertson, Sport Aberdeen Managing Director
Garry Millard commented: “My father-in-law found the club in an antiques shop in Bury St Edmonds. He is a keen golfer and visits us in Aberdeen a couple of times a year and we play golf together. When he realised the club was from Aberdeen, he brought it home last year and gifted it to me and I’m delighted to donate this to Balnagask Golf Course to mark this occasion.”
Balnagask Golf Course was originally opened on the 9 August 1905 by J. W. Crombie MP, however in 1915 membership declined as people got involved in the war effort. The course was officially reopened post-war on 13 April 1921 and since then has proved to be one of Aberdeen’s best loved courses. Golf Aberdeen has invested over £0.5m in the city’s courses since 2014, ensuring that a consistently high-quality experience is available to the local golf community.
Coby Needle, Marine Golf Club Secretary, added: “We are proud to be associated with a course that is such a key part of golf in the north-east of Scotland and I am pleased to be celebrating this milestone. I started Marine Golf Club in 2007 as a small, non-course-owning club, and we have remained active at Balnagask ever since. It is a fantastic course in an excellent location, and a constant challenge – even after all these years there are still holes which consistently defeat me.”
Graham Freeland, Nigg Bay Golf Club Captain, said: “Nigg Bay Golf Club has had a long-standing association with Balnagask Golf Course, around 67 years and it’s fantastic that the course is celebrating 100 years of catering for golfers from all over Aberdeen and the world.
“I have been the Captain of Nigg Bay for the last 10 years and have nothing but praise for all associated with the course. Nigg Bay has been spoilt for choice with great golfers to have graced Balnagask Golf Course. We have seen junior golfers develop into becoming great players and I’m sure the course played a major part in developing their skills.
“The course is a strong test for all who play on it at any time of year. All at Nigg Bay look forward to continuing to enjoy our great association with Balnagask Golf Course.”
Image caption (L to R) Allan Rae Sport Aberdeen Group Operations Manager, Garry Millard sandollar café co-owner and golf club donor and Coby Needle Marine Golf Club Secretary.
Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen has created activity packs aimed at improving the mental and physical health of the city’s care experienced children and young people through the power of sport.
Sport Aberdeen’s SPACE (Supported Physical Activity for Care Experienced) project teamed up with Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity, to introduce physical activity to an initiative which was delivering ‘wellbeing packs’ to young people, working alongside Aberdeen City Council’s Virtual School.
The SPACE project is a pioneering initiative which uses sport and physical activity to help care experienced children and young people reach their full potential through bespoke interventions.
The sports packs, funded by Sport Aberdeen, have been specifically tailored, where possible, for individual participants as identified through the SPACE project.
Sport Aberdeen funded the sports packs with a key focus on getting children and young people active and improving mental and physical health and wellbeing through sport.
Between Sport Aberdeen and Children 1st almost 250 requests from social work and education were received and packs have now been distributed throughout the city.
Sport Aberdeen staff have been distributing sports packs alongside helping to deliver the wider wellbeing packs.
Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said: “As a corporate parent Sport Aberdeen has a commitment to care experienced young people within the care of Aberdeen City Council, and by using the positive effects that sport has on mental and physical health, we can play our part in supporting this group.
“After identifying the same joint goal as Children 1st and with the backing of Aberdeen City Council’s Virtual School we have been able to work in partnership to create and deliver activity packs to as many people as possible.
“We have been able to create tailored packs for specific participants, with a focus on getting young people out and active which has been especially important during periods of lockdown.”
“We were delighted to partner with Sport Aberdeen and the Virtual School to provide these sports packs to young people and families in the local community. All sports packs included a range of equipment for indoor and outdoor activities, along with activity cards to help get the children started.
Lindsay Jessiman, Children 1st Service Manager
One family member who received an activity pack, commented: “They are so grateful for the stuff they got, especially the pump. The kids liked everything, the scrapbook and the goalie gloves. Thank-you to you and the team, it was so unexpected.”
Lindsay Jessiman, Service Manager for Children 1st in Aberdeen said: “We know that winter in lockdown has had a significant impact on the wellbeing of many of the children and young people that we work alongside.
“We were able to create and deliver these packs thanks to support from Abernecessities and our partners within the FitLike Hubs. The children and carers were delighted with their doorstep drops offs and we have had some really positive feedback.”
Adventure Aberdeen is set to make a splash in the city once again after the announcement of a reactivation date for sport as Scotland moves out of lockdown.
Outdoor adventurous activity will reactivate, with enhanced safety protocols following national guidance on Covid-19 safe operation, on 1 April and after the successful launch of several new activities last year, the charity is anticipating a wave of interest in the coming weeks.
In September last year canoeing, and later in the year stand up paddleboarding, sessions kicked off at the city’s historic Rubislaw Quarry which was once ‘the deepest man-made hole in Europe’. This marked the first time that the public have had access to the quarry since it closed in 1969.
In the first three months of launching, the charity saw over 1,000 people take to the quarry water with extra sessions added due to popularity. Nearly all sessions were sold out with people braving the north-east’s famous weather to take part in the activities.
Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said:
“The demand for these sports has highlighted the community’s drive to participate in outdoor and adventurous activity in Aberdeen and it is my hope that as we move out of lockdown and into warmer weather that even more people, of all ages will be able to enjoy what’s on offer locally.
Graeme Dale
“We were overwhelmed by the response to the launch of these exciting new water sports last year and it was great to be able to showcase and make the most of assets like Rubislaw Quarry on our doorstep.
“We are delighted to be able to offer an increased number of sessions over the Easter holidays, to give families in Aberdeen something different and exciting to take part in after months of staying at home.
“The support we have received over this challenging year from our members, and the wider community, has been incredible and we can’t wait to welcome everyone in the city back to sport. Outdoor education and participation in physical activity is vital for people of all ages and abilities and we hope that continued support can be offered as we move out of lockdown.”
From April, Adventure Aberdeen will also offer coasteering, gorge walking and rock climbing, providing the public with opportunities to safely experience and enjoy the unique landscape that the north-east has to offer while Learn to Bike sessions for children aged three to eight have already kicked off.
Click here for more information.
Sport Aberdeen has launched a new programme of outdoor fitness classes, completely free of charge, after official restrictions eased last week to allow for outdoor activities to resume.
In line with government guidelines, classes will launch on Monday 29 March at Get active @ Beach Leisure Centre and on Monday 5 April at Get active @ Alex Collie in Bridge of Don.
“The support we have received from our members over this challenging year has been fantastic and I know how keen they are to get back to live exercise classes. We will be operating with enhanced safety protocols in place to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and members and I know the whole Sport Aberdeen team is eager to welcome everyone back.”
David Selkirk
The sessions, which will be held in the grounds outside the venues, will follow strict Covid-19 guidelines, will be socially distanced and accommodate a maximum of 14 participants. All classes are free to Sport Aberdeen Get active members and non-members, with an eight-day advance booking option for members.
David Selkirk, Sport Aberdeen Director of Community Leisure Operations, said:
“This is a really exciting first step in allowing us to get back to providing opportunities for the whole community to take part in fitness classes in a safe and welcoming environment. Our members are very excited, and we saw all of the Get active @ Beach Leisure Centre week one classes booking up within the first hour of going live.